OC man arrested in San Diego in wife's slaying

NEWPORT BEACH  Police continued to search for the body of a Newport Beach woman Saturday, days after her husband was arrested in San Diego on suspicion of murder, authorities said.

Peter Gregory Chadwick, 48, remained in the Newport Beach jail Saturday on $1.5 million bail, said Newport Beach police Sgt. Dave Miner. Although the body of 46-year-old Quee “Q.C.” Chadwick has not been located, police say their investigation reveals she is a victim of homicide.

Peter Chadwick was arrested Thursday by San Diego police near the Mexican border in his champagne-colored 2003 Lexus SUV, said Newport Beach police. He was taken into custody by Newport Beach police detectives.

About 7 p.m. Wednesday, officers went to the Chadwick home in the affluent community of Newport Coast just south of Newport Beach in Orange County after a concerned neighbor called police to report that the Chadwicks’ children had not been picked up from school earlier that afternoon, said police spokeswoman Kathy Lowe. Responding officers saw evidence of a struggle and possible foul play, she said.

About 5:30 a.m. Thursday, Peter Chadwick called San Diego police from state Route 905 seeking assistance, Lowe said. Details of why he called local authorities seeking help were not released.

Newport Beach detectives were searching the areas believed to be traveled by Peter Chadwick during the hours before his arrest, Lowe said.